Water-meter.



G. B. BASSETT.

WATER METER.'

APPLIUATION FILED JULY13,1908.

1,073,385B Patented, sept. 16,1913.

GEORGE B. BASSETT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

'WATER-METER.

To all whom z't may concern.'

` Be it -known that I, GEORGE B. BASSETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie 'and State of New York, have invented a new and useful VVater-Meter, of which the following is Va specification, reference beineP had to the drawings accompanying and i? thereof.

The objects ofmy present invention are principally to improve the construction. and arrangement of the outside asng, bearings, strainer, indicator gearing, measuring plston or disk, and other parts 1n theconstructlon of water meters for the purpose of reducing the cost of manufacture, allowing the more j ready assemblage, separation, and adjustment of parts,l increasing the eliciency and durability, and giving other advantageous results.

I will now proceed to definitely describe the manner in which I have carried out "my invention and thenclaim what I believe to be novel.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central- Vertical longitudinal section of my improved meter showing the interior working parts in place. Fig. 2 is a horizontal upward view of the bottom of the' indicator showing the change gears arranged for U. S. gallon indicators. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modified forml of the intermediate gear and its improved bearing. lFig. 4 is a sectional view of 15 and 15 tooth denominational change geur for cubic foot indicators. Fig. 5 is a sectional View of 15 and 24 tooth denominational change gear for imperial gallon indicators.

The outer casing of the meter is composed of two detachable parts, 1 and 2, which may be fastened together by bolts `passing through the meeting Hanges 3 and 4. Lower outer casing 1 is provided with an inlet opening 5, and an outlet opening 6. Between the meeting flanges 3 and 4 is supported the measuring chamber 7. Nutating measurin disk 8 is held in measuring chamber 7 an is made with an inner core 9, of

light material such as asbestos and magnesia or a mixture of the two, and with an outer surface 10 made of a heavier and stronger material such as cast bronze or aluminum.

l1, 11 are stifening posts formed to support the outer surfaces 10 of the nutating measuring disk 8. This construction makes a light and stiff metal disk piston.

Specification of Letters Patent.

orming a partl vPatented Sept. 16, 1913.

Application filed J' uly l1908. Serial N o. 443,279.

Intermediate gear and pinion l12 is removably mounted on the vert-ical` intermediate gear post 13 which is rigidly fastened-in its seat in gear plate 30 on top of measuring chamber 7. 12 is supported on the top end of intermediate gear post 13 which reduces the friction toa minimum..

14 is a. small hole in pinion 12 to permit the water to lubrieate this bearing. In some waters where metal bears on metal, the wear is excessive. In such waters, I mount a piece of hard rubber or a jewel or other nonmetallic substance, 29, in intermediate gear The weight of gear and pinion 12 to receive its weighton top of stud 13 as ybail 16 by which it is held to its seat when removable hand hole plate 17 is placed in position. By removing plate 17, strainer 15 may be removed, cleaned, and replaced without openingthe outside casing of the meter at meeting flanges 3 and 4:.

18 is a water meter indicator ofvany approved style supported on top of outer cas'- ing 2.

19 is the driven shaft of the' indicator on which is rigidly mounted indicator percentage changegear 20.

21 is an adjusting arm fastened to the bottom of indicatorlS so that it may be rotatedabout a center concentric with driven shaft 19 and its percentage change gear 20.

22 is a screw for fastening adjusting arm 21 in any desired position.

23 is a bearing stud rigidly mounted in adjusting arm 21. IOn bearing stud 23 is loosely mount-ed idler pinion 24 on whichA is rigidly mounted denominational idler gear 25"..

26 is the stuii'ing box shaft of the meter on which is rigidly mounted meter. change gear 27.

In operation, the water enters inlet openf ing 5 and passes upward undei` cap 17, thencethrough strainer basket 15 into the interior of the meter above the measuring chamber, thence through vthe measuring chamber 7, operating the measuring disk 8, thence into the interior; of the meter below the measuring chamber and thence through outlet 6. AThe measuring disk 8, as it nu tates, Ioperates the intermediate gearing 12 and stuffing box shaft 26 and its meter' change gear 27, which meshes with and operates denominational idler gear 25", whose 24 I make with 15 teeth idler pinion-24 meshes with and operates indicator percentage change gear 20 and'its driven indicator shaft 19. The usual practice in meter construction is for meter change gear27 to mesh directly With-indicator change gear 20. As the centers of these gears are fixed quiteclose together, bein only about of an inch apart, the num er of teeth of suitable size that may be used on them is relatively small. This necessitates a great number of different sizes of change gears, some series of meters requiring a stock of several hundred change gears in order to properly adjust each meter when tested to indicate the amount of Water that passes through it in the denominations of cubic feet, gallons, or otherdenominations. To properly illustrate the advantages of my improved system of change gears, I will be concrete. By making indicator ercentage change gear 20 large and' passing 1t over the top of meter change gear 27, I can, on the same diameter blanks, out respectively 51, 52, 53, '54, and 55 teeth, without the teeth varying suiciently in size so much but thatthey will mesh with idler pinion 24. of denominational idler gear 25". Idler pinion because most meters indicate in cubic feet and as the cubic foot denominational'idler gear has 15 teeth, I can makethe gear and pinion for cubic feet in one piece, as shown in Fig. 4. I test on the testing bench, on the basis several of the same size meters and nd that a meter change gear 27 with say 30 teeth will be suitable to use on the size meter taken. i j

Meter manufacturers in the United States, have calls mostly'for meters indicating in cubic feet, U. S. gallons, and also imperial gallons, for export to Canada. It is usual to test and adjust Water meters by Weighing the Water passed through them While that 10 cubic feet of `Water Weighs 625 pounds, 100 U. S. gallons-833% pounds, and 10() imperial gallons-1000 pounds. By using 41?; as a common divisor, I get the proportions of 15, 20, and 24, as the correct number of teeth for denominational idler gears 25a, 25h, and 25, in `order to correspond with cubic feet, U.4 S. gallons, and imperial gallons respectively.

In a series of nine sizes of Water meters each to be fitted with change gears to indicate in the three denominations of cubic fee-t, U. S, gallons, and imperial gallons, with five percentage variation for each denomination, it Would. require with the usual single air of change gears, 2X9 3 5, or 270 di erent'sizes of change gears, and 540 different sizes if 10 percentage variations areirequired. While with my improved sys tem o change gears meter gears, 3 denominational gears, and 5 indicator gears,

U. S. gallons, imperial vor only a total of 17 different gears'are required instead of 270, and .if 10 percentage variations are required, it is only neecssary to have two sizes of meter gear 27 for each meter, or 2X9 plus 3 plus 5, equals 26 different gears instead of 540. In actual .practioe, a stock of 1000 meters may be tested and. adjusted to register U. S. gallons, each having .its proper percentage change gear 20 to Abring it to indicate accurately, and each having U.' S. gallon denominational change gear 25b withl 20 teeth on stud 23. Should orders be received for meters indicating in cubic feet, it is not necessary to re-test these meters but simply take oft U. S. gallon denominational change gear 25b with 20 teeth from .stud 23, and put on cubic foot denominational change gear 25 with 15 teeth and shift adjusting arm 21 to the lower po-sition shown by-dotted lines in Fig.

, 2. Should orders be received for meters inimperial gallons, put on impedicating in l denominational change gear 25 rial gallon With 24 teeth and shift adjusting arm 21 tov the upper posit-ion shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This system of change gears may be applied to other meters than Water meters.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a Water meter, the combination with a bottom casing, a separable top casing and a strainer mounted in said top casing, ot a hand hole and a removable hand hole plate in said to-p casing for giving access to said strainer substantially as and for the purpose described.

2.. In a Water meter, the combination with a bottom casing, a separable top casing, a strainer mounted in said top casing, and an indicator mounted on saidtop casing of a hand hole and a removable hand hole plate in said top casing for giving access to said strainer, substantially as and for the vpurpose described.

3. In a Water meter, the combination with a bottomcasing containing the inlet and outlet to the meter, a l,separable top casing mounted on top of said bottom casing and a strainer mounted in said top casing of a hand hole and a hand hole plate-in said top casing for giving access to said strainer, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a Water meter piston, the combina-v a metal post extending through said core from -one portion of said metal exterior surface to another portion ofvnsaid surface, substantially as and for the purpose describe 6. A water meter comprising a submerged water operated device; an indicator; a rig1d vertical gear post; and a submerged intermediate toothed pinion formed with a longitudinal central hole closed at its upper end and mounted on and inclosing the top y end of said gear post on which it rotates in transmitting motion from said device to said indicator, substantially as andpfor thefpur-A pose described.- t

7 In a water meter, the combination with a water operated device and an indicator for registering the iow, of. a rigid metallic gear post, a non-metallic bearing on the top of said gear post and a hollow intermediate toothed pinion or gear mounted on and supported by said bearing and adapted to turn about said post while 'transmitting mot-ion from lsaid device to said indicator, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A water meter comprising a registering indicator, a water operated device, a stuiiin box intermediate between said indicator an said water operated device, a st-uiing box shaft passing through said stuing box' and actuated atits inner end by the powenfurnished by said water operated device, al.

9. A water meter comprising a registering y indicator, a water operated device, a stuiiin box intermediate between said indicator an said water operated device, a stuling box shaft passing through said stuing box and actuated at its innerend by the power furnished by said water operated device a meter change gear-fastened on said stiiiiing box sha-ftV at its outer end, an indicator change ear, an idler gear actuated by said meter c ange gear and meansfformoving said Aidler gear around the center of one of said 'changev ears and adjustin the saine in relation to t e other ofA said c ange gears, substantially as and for the purpose (le-- scribed.

10. A water meter comprising a registering indicator, a water operated device, a stuiiing box lintermediate between said indicator and said water operated device, a stufiing box shaft passing through said stuiiing box and actuated at its inner end by the power furnished by said water operated device, a meter change gear fastened on said stuiiing box shaft at its outer end, an indicator change gear, and a series of denominational idler change gears, any one of which is adapted to transmit motion from said meter change gear to said indicator change gear, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. A water meter comprising a registering indicator, a water operated device, a 4stuffing box intermediate between said indi-l cator and said water operated device, .a stuffing box shaft passing' through said stuing box and actuated at its inner end by the power furnished by said water operated device, .a meter change gear fastened on said stuiiing box shaft at its Aouter end an Yindicator change gear and a series vofdenoniinational idler gears whose teeth have the ratios of 15 for indicatingcubic feet, 20 for indicating U. S. gallons and 24 for indicatingV I imperial gallons, any one of which is adapt ed to transmit motion from said meter change gear to said indicator change gear, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. A water meter comprising a registering indicator, a water operated4 device, a stuiing box intermediate-'between said indicator and said water operated device, a stuffing box shaft passing through said stuing box and actuated at its inner end'by 'the power furnished bysaid water operated device, a meter change gear fastened on said stuiin box shaft at its outer end, an indicator c ange gear extending over said meter change gear, and an idler mesh with both saidY meter c ange gear and sai'd indicator change gear, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

` 13. A Awater meter comprising a register ing indicator, a water operated device, a stuffing box intermediate between said indicator and said water operated device, 'a

stuing box shaft passing through said stuiiing box and actuated at its inner end by the power furnished by said water operated device, a meter change gear fastened'on said stuiin box shaft, an indicator change gear exten ing over said meter chan e gear, an idler gear adapted to mesh wit both said meter change gear and said indicator change gear and means for adjusting said idler gear f relative to one of said change gears,.sub stantially as and for the urposedescribed. In witness whereof I have` hereunto setmy signature this 10th day ,of July, 1908. GEORGE B. BASSETT. Witnesses:

L. T. 13mm, CHARLES K. Bassn'rr.

ear adapted to 

